Climate Change and the UN Security Council

Climate Change and the UN Security Council

Edited by Shirley V. Scott, Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, UNSW Canberra, Australia and Charlotte Ku, Associate Dean for Global Programs and Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University, School of Law, US

In this forward-looking book, the authors consider how the United Nations Security Council could assist in addressing the global security challenges brought about by climate change. Contributing authors contemplate how the UNSC could prepare for this role; progressing the debate from whether and why the council should act on climate insecurity, to how? Scholars, activists, and policy makers will find this book a fertile source of innovative thinking and an invaluable basis on which to develop policy.

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Edited by Shirley V. Scott and Charlotte Ku, this forward-looking book examines the scope and options for the United Nations Security Council to respond to climate insecurity. A cross-disciplinary team of experts addresses the range of political and legal considerations involved, including, the scope for adapting existing Council tools to address the challenge of climate change, the legality and legitimacy of doing so, the attitude of the P5 and EU, and Council action to date.

Specific tools considered include establishing an international court or tribunal, targeted sanctions, peace missions, and ‘legislation’. The starting assumption is that, given the futures projected by climate scientists and the responsibility of the Council for international peace and security, the Council will almost inevitably take its place as a key player in climate governance. Contributors therefore focus on the question of just how the Council will be able to most constructively contribute to effective climate governance and how it can begin to prepare for such a role.

This book will be of great value to scholars investigating the governance of climate change. For activists and government officials the book provides high quality research that can be drawn upon to give background to debate, and inform future policy.